CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FAIR was held in Tropea, Calabria, Italy on 24 October, 2015.
Initiated and organised by V-CODE project partner - Istituto Culturale Relazioni Euromediterranee ICRE (Institute of Mediterranean Culture)
Italian Civic Volunteering Fair took part on 24/10/2015 in Tropea. The event started with the conference entitled: "Volunteering: World Heritage" held at the Deocesano Museum of Tropea. At the same time the stands were opened in the city square Piazza Vittorio Veneto (Tropea) of voluntary associations and more. The day was enlivened by practical demonstrations and musical, cultural, gastronomic and ludic events.
The ICRE (Institute for Cultural Relations Euromediterranee) in organising the volunteer fair has decided to aim at young people, bringing them closer to the world of volunteering and instilling in them a commitment to help those in need. To achieve this objective ICRE organised a conference entitled "Volunteering: World Heritage", inviting various personalities with different skills, who have brought their experiences to make them known to the participating people. The event was a mix of different formats, passing from the formal (meeting) to the fair in the square where alternated visits to the stands of voluntary associations and musical, artistic and ludic moments.
For the success of the event ICRE implemented several distinct actions. The various meetings with all members of ICRE were fundamental. During these meetings overall organisation of the event and the task assignments were established. Once clarified the objectives the most suitable tools for the achievement of them, considering the available resources, were identified. A particular attention was paid to the choice of location where the event was held, which fell on the town of Tropea for its artistic and natural beauty, and the Diocesan Museum, very prestigious location where the conference was held. This cozy, comfortable and equipped and beautiful location represented the idea that ICRE wanted to communicate to the public. Established the location, ICRE started to take various contacts. The first one was with the Mayor of Tropea, to explain why ICRE wanted to organize this event and to obtain the various permits. Another very important contact was the association CSV of Vibo Valentia (Centro Servizi per il Volontariato), that was very useful to identify and invite the voluntary associations to participate to the event. The next step was to choose the speakers involved in the conference. The choice fell on people engaged in social activity and especially with a strong charisma, who can entertain the audience. At this point it was turned on the publicity of the event, printing posters and banners and distributing leaflets throughout the province of Vibo Valentia. Another very important step was the involvement of the schools of Vibo Valentia and Tropea, taking contact with the various school principals and by making sure that the students attended the event, also taking care of the transport. Local businessmen were contacted who wanted to donate their products for the charity sale that ICRE did in the square during the event. The students of the Istituto Alberghiero of Tropea have actively participated in the event preparing sweets that were sold. The proceeds of these sales were donated to charity. ICRE involved local artists who had contributed to the success of the event in the square with music, dancing (giants), painting exhibitions etc. Lunch for the present project partners, the organizers and the speakers was organised, too. ICRE has also set the event that this would bring together many different people, but united by a common interest, the Volunteer.
The Volunteer Fair was an event very complex, articulate and challenging. It required a strong capacity for planning, a lot of creativity, management skills and attitudes to coordinate different situations. Very often the focus, for the success of the event, is exclusively on the availability of economic resources overlooking the fact that the success depends on a set of factors equally important. A careful analysis has been a central part for the success of the event.
ICRE has achieved its goals through: the involvement of local voluntary associations; the acquisition of new volunteers for local initiatives; the actions of pressure on local politicians; the spreading the values of volunteering in schools; the sharing of experiences dedicated to volunteering for a greater understanding of the guiding principles; the promotion and dissemination through social networks, email, Facebook, local newspapers, photos, movies, cd.
The ICRE (Institute for Cultural Relations Euromediterranee) in organising the volunteer fair has decided to aim at young people, bringing them closer to the world of volunteering and instilling in them a commitment to help those in need. To achieve this objective ICRE organised a conference entitled "Volunteering: World Heritage", inviting various personalities with different skills, who have brought their experiences to make them known to the participating people. The event was a mix of different formats, passing from the formal (meeting) to the fair in the square where alternated visits to the stands of voluntary associations and musical, artistic and ludic moments.
For the success of the event ICRE implemented several distinct actions. The various meetings with all members of ICRE were fundamental. During these meetings overall organisation of the event and the task assignments were established. Once clarified the objectives the most suitable tools for the achievement of them, considering the available resources, were identified. A particular attention was paid to the choice of location where the event was held, which fell on the town of Tropea for its artistic and natural beauty, and the Diocesan Museum, very prestigious location where the conference was held. This cozy, comfortable and equipped and beautiful location represented the idea that ICRE wanted to communicate to the public. Established the location, ICRE started to take various contacts. The first one was with the Mayor of Tropea, to explain why ICRE wanted to organize this event and to obtain the various permits. Another very important contact was the association CSV of Vibo Valentia (Centro Servizi per il Volontariato), that was very useful to identify and invite the voluntary associations to participate to the event. The next step was to choose the speakers involved in the conference. The choice fell on people engaged in social activity and especially with a strong charisma, who can entertain the audience. At this point it was turned on the publicity of the event, printing posters and banners and distributing leaflets throughout the province of Vibo Valentia. Another very important step was the involvement of the schools of Vibo Valentia and Tropea, taking contact with the various school principals and by making sure that the students attended the event, also taking care of the transport. Local businessmen were contacted who wanted to donate their products for the charity sale that ICRE did in the square during the event. The students of the Istituto Alberghiero of Tropea have actively participated in the event preparing sweets that were sold. The proceeds of these sales were donated to charity. ICRE involved local artists who had contributed to the success of the event in the square with music, dancing (giants), painting exhibitions etc. Lunch for the present project partners, the organizers and the speakers was organised, too. ICRE has also set the event that this would bring together many different people, but united by a common interest, the Volunteer.
The Volunteer Fair was an event very complex, articulate and challenging. It required a strong capacity for planning, a lot of creativity, management skills and attitudes to coordinate different situations. Very often the focus, for the success of the event, is exclusively on the availability of economic resources overlooking the fact that the success depends on a set of factors equally important. A careful analysis has been a central part for the success of the event.
ICRE has achieved its goals through: the involvement of local voluntary associations; the acquisition of new volunteers for local initiatives; the actions of pressure on local politicians; the spreading the values of volunteering in schools; the sharing of experiences dedicated to volunteering for a greater understanding of the guiding principles; the promotion and dissemination through social networks, email, Facebook, local newspapers, photos, movies, cd.
The Volunteering fair is having a positive and extended impact on groups who participated, both on those who have worked in the social for a long time and those have other purposes and that for the first time have approached the world of volunteering. Of course the initiative has given and will continue to bear fruit in the future by developing more and more cooperation networks and aggregating different groups for a common purpose. Also who never approached the volunteering, after the participation at the event, has become more sensitive to the topic, taking an active part.
The fair has given an impulse for the realisation of other similar events later, such as the manifestation of schools of Tropea organised on 14.12.2015. The students involved public authorities, voluntary associations and not only the citizens in the problems of the school and of the area.
This iniative had innovative aspects, never occurred before in the area, with the involvement of different groups and people but united by a single purpose. It has also proved to be a "good practice" to unite and raise the people. Many of them were calling ICRE long after the event to ask questions and offer cooperation for a possible future event.
Although some time already passed after the demonstration the matter topic is alive and present in the citizenship, who has become aware and has adopted the principles of the volunteering. ICRE with the fair has given the input (the actual results will be seen by the time).
232 participants took part at the event. Participants learned more about the voluntary work benefits for themselves and the society.
Around 20 organisations took part at the event and at the stands organised in the city square presented themselves engaging new volunteers and building networks among participating organisations. Lectures were made presenting practices, needs and advantages of volunteering. New volunteer were recruited while preparing for the event and during the fair. More than 30 participants expressed their willingness to volunteer in a certain organisation or initiative signing their agreements. The fair has given an impulse for the realisation of other similar events later in the region.As the process of project evaluation a survey was made after the Fair to evaluate the success of the project. The data was used then for the whole project evaluation.
The event began at 9:30am with the conference entitled: "Volunteering: World Heritage" held at the Deocesano Museum of Tropea. At the same time there were opened stands in Piazza Vittorio Veneto (Tropea) of voluntary associations and more. The day was enlivened by practical demonstrations and musical, cultural, gastronomic and ludic events.
PROGRAM
9:30 - The conference “VOLUNTEERING - HERITAGE OF HUMANITY” at the Diocesan Museum of Tropea.
Introductory speeches:
Roberto Garzulli, President of CSV (Center of Volunteering Service)
Anna Purita, President of ICRE (Institute of Mediterranean Culture)
Speakers:
1. Giuseppe Fiorillo, Priest: Association "Free" (deals with legality in the territory).
2. Giovanni Barberio, President of Association "UIC" (Italian Blind Union, responsible for the region).
3. Cosmo Gallizzi, President Association "Solidarity of the Municipality of Limbadi" (they deal with the problems of vulnerable groups of an area targeted by the mafia).
4. Torre Francesco, Doctor of ASP in Vibo Valentia and President of Association "Voice of Silece", (integration of disabled people into work).
Honorable guests:
Giovanni Bruno, Prefect of Province of Vibo Valentia
Michele Mirabello, Councelor of Calabria Region
Giuseppe Rodolico, Mayor of Tropea
Beatrice Lento, Scool Director at Tropea
Ignazio Toraldo, French Pastor Cathedral Tropea
Dario Martinelli, Director of International Semiotics Institute, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
12:00 The end of the conference in the square of Vittorio Veneto
13:30 Lunch
15:00 Starts the Fair of Volunteering organizations in the square Vittorio Veneto. All participating NGO's will present, demonstrate their activities. At the same time there will be traditional calabrian games, music, songs, folk dances and of course food.
18.00 End of the Fair
PHOTOS from the event >>>
POSTER of the event >>>
ARTICLE published in the newspaper after the event >>>
FACEBOOK event of the Fair >>>